SkierM

Hi All Final update. I changed the points which solved that issue and then addressed the second radius curve. By checking the level of the track and adjusting I managed to get the loco to negotiate the curve. The tolerances here are small - my spirit level bubble is in the centre, just a smidge off and the loco behaves (just). It always feels that it is barely clinging on and as mentioned before you can’t take your eyes off it for a second. As a sanity check I ran my HST “Farewell Tour” set over the same track with absolutely no dramas. I then moved on to the third radius and the loco was straight off on the first curve. As JSpencer mentioned there is no lateral movement on the front bogie so the slightest undulation on a curve and the front bogie lifts throwing the loco off the track every time. Refund time and order placed for Class 87 instead.

So the saga continues. I decided to have one more attempt at the Class 91 running issues. I switched the point out that the loco was particularly clunky on for another Hornby one. This has instantly made things better. I have also checked my track carefully and spotted that on one curve the track dips slightly due to a join between the baseboards - this was allowing the lead wheel set to just lift off the track resulting in the derailment. I get the impression that due to the tight tolerances on this loco you need as perfect track as possible. If you have issues with points it may be worth swapping them out for a different set. It seems to have helped me - will report back again once I sort the curved track section. Fingers crossed this may fix my running issues.

Thanks for all the advice on the couplings. I have to say that having run the loco a couple of times it has to be the worst performing loco I have ever owned. It is so clunky over point work and now seems to struggle to cope with second radius curves. You can’t possibly leave it running on its own as it is constantly derailing. I have locos half the price of this that cope with my layout perfectly. Being returned for a refund - life is too short for this.

That would be really useful thank you. Glad to hear that there is a way of getting my existing coach stock to couple to the new loco. I went to school in Durham so know Durham Cathedral well which is why I really wanted this loco on my layout.

Hi All I’ve just taken delivery of a Class 91 “Durham Cathedral”. Loco looks great and I’ve fitted it with a Dapol Imperium 21 pin DCC chip which seems to perform well. Loco is smooth running but as others have mentioned is a bit clunky over point work. My layout has standard Hornby points - the loco is alright running over them bar one where the front axle does noticeably clunk. I can probably live with it for now as it isn’t horrendous although I would have expected a loco in this price range to cope with all types of point work without any issues. I do own some older Hornby InterCity coaches in the same livery - these resolutely refuse to couple to the loco as the couplings are different. I have to confess I’ve not come across this type of issue before so was wondering if anyone could advise on the best way to resolve this particular problem - can I easily change the couplings on the loco or coaches or am I going to have to invest in the newer coach models due to be released shortly? Kind regards